ON MONDAY, ‘THE JAY LENO SHOW’ HITS A NINE-WEEK HIGH FOR THE NIGHT IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – December 22, 2009 – Led by “NBC Sunday Night Football,” which was the #1 primetime program of the week in adults 18-49 and other key measures, NBC tied for #2 in primetime’s key demographic of adults 18-49, averaging a 2.4 rating, 7 share in 18-49 and 7.3 million viewers overall for the week of December 14-20, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

For the week, NBC ranked #2 outright among the major networks in adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” telecast of the Minnesota Vikings at the Carolina Panthers was the #1 primetime program of the week in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demographics – men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. This marks the 14th telecast in a row of “NBC Sunday Night Football” to top the weekly primetime adult 18-49 rankings (excluding NFL pre- and post-game shows, and including a tie with the Thursday NFL season opener). With an average 18.2 million viewers, “Sunday Night Football” ranked #2 among all programs this week in total viewers.

* On Sunday, NBC Sports’ “Sunday Night Football” telecast of the Minnesota Vikings at the Carolina Panthers propelled NBC to a Sunday primetime win in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures.

* On Friday, “The Jay Leno Show” ranked #2 among the major networks in its hour in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers and ranked #1 in men 18-34 (tie), men 18-49 and men 25-54. This marked the seventh consecutive telecast in which “The Jay Leno Show” out-delivered a competing broadcast network drama in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers, dating back to a win over ABC’s “Private Practice” encore on December 10, followed by finishes ahead of CBS’s “Numb3rs” rebroadcast on December 11, ABC’s “Castle” encore on December 14, ABC’s December 15 rebroadcast of “The Forgotten,” ABC’s original “Eastwick” on December 16 and ABC’s “Private Practice” encore on December 17.

* The most recent two weeks (December 14-18 and December 7-11) have been the two top-scoring weeks for “The Jay Leno Show” out of the last nine (since October 12-16) in viewers 18-49 and the two top-scoring weeks out of the last eight in total viewers (since October 19-23).

* NBC ranked #1 among the major networks Friday in total viewers for the second week in a row.

* On Thursday, the special “Saturday Night Live Presents a Very Gilly Christmas” scored NBC’s highest 18-49 rating in the time period since October 8 and delivered a season slot high in total viewers. The special delivered the top 18-49 and total-viewer results for a “Saturday Night Live” primetime telecast in more than a year, while ranking #1 among the major networks in the time period in adults, men and women 18-34 and #2 in most other key measures, including adults 18-49 and total viewers.

* Also on Thursday, “Jay Leno Show” delivered its highest 18-49 and total-viewer results for a Thursday telecast in nine weeks. “Leno” ranked #2 among the major networks in the hour in all key ratings categories – adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49, 25-54, as well as total viewers.

* On Wednesday, “The Jay Leno Show” was up 23 percent in adults 18-49, 27 percent in adults 25-54 and 22 percent in total viewers versus the prior Wednesday. “Leno” matched its highest Wednesday 18-49 rating in nine weeks and ranked #2 among the major networks in the hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key ratings categories.

* On Tuesday, night two of “The Sing-Off” grew versus its first night by 13 percent in adults 18-49 and 14 percent in adults 18-34. In its two-hour time period, “The Sing-Off” ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key ratings categories, behind only CBS’s “NCIS” and “NCIS: LA,” except in women 18-34, where “Sing-Off” tied the CBS drama block for #1.

* “The Sing-Off” on Tuesday increased by 22 percent in 18-49 rating and by 15 percent in total viewers from its first to its second hour. In its concluding hour from 9-10 p.m., “The Sing-Off” ranked #1 in adults and women 18-34 and #2 in all other key measures.

* Also on Tuesday, “The Jay Leno Show” ranked #1 among the major networks at 10 p.m. ET in men 18-34 and #2 in all other key ratings measures, including adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

* On Monday, night one of “The Sing-Off” scored NBC’s highest 18-49 rating in the time period since September 28 and attracted the network’s biggest overall viewership in the two-hour slot since September 14. “The Sing-Off” ranked #2 among the major networks in its slot in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

* Also on Monday, “The Jay Leno Show” delivered its top Monday results in both adults 18-49 and total viewers in nine weeks. “Leno” ranked #2 among the major networks in 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures.

Ratings reflect “live plus same day” data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of “live plus seven day” data except for the two most recent weeks, which are “live plus same day.”

Additional NBC highlights for the week of December 14-20:

On Monday, December 14, from 8-10:01 p.m. ET, the debut of “The Sing-Off” (2.3 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49, 6.9 million viewers overall) scored NBC’s highest 18-49 rating in this time period since September 28 and attracted the network’s biggest overall viewership in the two-hour slot since September 14.

In the time period, “The Sing-Off” ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 18-49, total viewers, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-female demographics.

Monday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, “The Jay Leno Show” averaged a 1.5/4 in adults 18-49, a 1.7/4 in adults 25-54 and 4.8 million viewers overall. Monday’s time period competition included CBS’s “CSI: Miami” original and ABC’s “Castle” encore. “The Jay Leno Show” ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 18-49, total viewers and virtually all key ratings categories.

“The Jay Leno Show” delivered its top Monday results in both adults 18-49 and total viewers and nine weeks (since October 12).

On Tuesday, December 15 from 8-10:01 p.m. ET, night two of “The Sing-Off” (2.6/7 in adults 18-49, 6.9 million viewers overall) increased versus its first night by 13 percent in adults 18-49 (2.6 vs. 2.3) and 14 percent in adults 18-34 (2.4 vs. 2.1). “Sing-Off” delivered these gains versus all original competition on the other major networks with the exception of ABC’s 8-9 p.m. encore telecast of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Original competition included CBS’s “NCIS” and “NCIS: LA,” Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” and the premiere of “Gordon Ramsey: Cookalong Live” and ABC’s comedies “Scrubs” and “Better Off Ted.”

In its two-hour time period, “The Sing-Off” ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key ratings categories, behind only CBS’s “NCIS” and “NCIS: LA,” except in women 18-34, where “Sing-Off” tied the CBS drama block for #1. From its first hour to its second, “The Sing-Off” grew by 22 percent in 18-49 rating (to 2.8/8 from 2.2/7) and by 15 percent in total viewers (to 7.3 million from 6.4 million). In its concluding hour from 9-10 p.m., “The Sing-Off” ranked #1 in adults and women 18-34.

Tuesday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, “The Jay Leno Show” averaged a 1.8/5 in adults 18-49, a 2.1/6 in adults 25-54 and 5.2 million viewers overall. Tuesday’s time period competition included encore telecasts of CBS’s first-run telecast of “The Good Wife” and ABC’s encore of “The Forgotten.”

In the time period, “The Jay Leno Show” ranked #1 among the major networks in men 18-34 and #2 in all other key ratings measures, including adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

NBC ranked #2 among the major networks Tuesday night in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54, total viewers and all other key measures.

On Wednesday, December 16 from 8-10:01 p.m. ET, night three of “The Sing-Off” averaged a 2.2/6 in adults 18-49 and 6.5 million viewers overall. Airing head-to-head against the two-hour finale of Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” “The Sing-Off” finished within 9 percent of the Fox finale in total viewers (6.5 million vs. 7.1 million). From its first half-hour to its fourth, “The Sing-Off” increased by 16 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.2 from a 1.9).

Wednesday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, “The Jay Leno Show” averaged a 1.6/5 in adults 18-49, a 1.9/5 in adults 25-54 and 5.5 million viewers overall. Wednesday’s time-period competition included first-run episodes of CBS’s “CSI: NY” and ABC’s “Eastwick.” In the time period, “The Jay Leno Show” ranked #2 among the major networks in all key ratings categories – adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49, 25-54, as well as total viewers – topping the original “Eastwick” in each of those races.

On Thursday, December 17 from 8-10:01 p.m. ET, “Saturday Night Live Presents a Very Gilly Christmas” (3.1/9 in adults 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) scored NBC’s highest 18-49 rating in this time period since October 8 and delivered a season high in total viewers. These were the top 18-49 and total-viewer results for a “Saturday Night Live” primetime telecast in more than a year, since the “Presidential Bash 2008” special on Monday, Nov. 3, 2008.

In the time period, “Saturday Night Live Presents a Very Gilly Christmas” ranked #2 in numerous key ratings measures, including adults 18-49 and total viewers, and was #1 among the major networks in adults, men and women 18-34, ahead of CBS’s “Survivor” and “CSI” originals and encore competition on ABC and Fox.

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, “The Jay Leno Show” averaged a 1.7/5 in adults 18-49, a 2.0/5 in adults 25-54 and 5.2 million viewers overall. Thursday’s time-period competition included CBS’s “The Mentalist” original and ABC’s “Private Practice” encore. “Leno” ranked #2 among the major networks in the time period in all key ratings categories — adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49, 25-54, plus total viewers. .

On Friday, December 18 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “Law & Order” (1.2/4 in adults 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among the major networks in its time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key ratings measures.

Friday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, “Dateline NBC” (1.4/4 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among the major networks in total viewers and tied for #1 in adults 18-49.

Friday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, “The Jay Leno Show” averaged a 1.4/4 in adults 18-49, a 1.8/5 in adults 25-54 and 5.4 million viewers overall. Friday’s time-period competition included CBS’s “Numb3rs” encore and ABC’s “20/20.” “The Jay Leno Show” matched its top Friday 18-49 rating in 12 weeks (since September 25). In the time period, “Leno” ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and total viewers and ranked #1 in men 18-34 (tie), men 18-49 and men 25-54.

Friday marked the seventh consecutive telecast in which “The Jay Leno Show” out-delivered a competing broadcast network drama in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers, dating back to a win over ABC’s “Private Practice” encore on December 10, followed by finishes ahead of CBS’s “Numb3rs” rebroadcast on December 11, ABC’s “Castle” encore on December 14, ABC’s December 15 rebroadcast of “The Forgotten,” ABC’s original “Eastwick” on December 16, ABC’s “Private Practice” encore on December 17 and this December 18 encore telecast of CBS’s “Numb3rs.”

NBC ranked #1 among the major networks Friday night in total viewers for the second consecutive week.

On Saturday, December 19 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa” averaged a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 2.2 million viewers overall. From 9-10 p.m., “WWE Tribute to the Troops” (0.8/2 in 18-49, 2.4 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 33 percent in 18-49 rating.

Saturday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (1.1/3 in 18-49, 4.0 million viewers overall) ranked #1 or tied for #1 among the major networks in men 18-49 and 25-54 and women 18-34, and was #2 in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures. From its first half-hour to its second, “SVU’ increased by 20 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.2 from a 1.0) and by 27 percent in total viewers (to 4.4 million from 3.5 million).

On Sunday, December 20, the “NBC Sunday Night Football” telecast of the Minnesota Vikings at the Carolina Panthers propelled NBC to a Sunday primetime win in adults and men 18-49, adults and men 25-54 and total viewers. For its full duration, the Vikings-Panthers game averaged a 6.5/17 in adults 18-49, 18.2 million viewers overall and an 11.0/18 household rating/share from 8:31-11:17 p.m. ET.

For the night (from 7:30-11 p.m. ET), NBC averaged a 5.3/14 in adults 18-49 and 15.1 million viewers overall. NBC’s margin of victory over the #2 network was 8 percent in adults 18-49 (5.3/14 for NBC from 7:30-11 p.m. vs. a 4.9/13 for Fox from 7-10 p.m.) and 15 percent in total viewers (15.1 million for NBC from 7:30-11 p.m. vs. 13.2 million for CBS from 7-11 p.m.).

Also on Sunday, “Football Night in America 2” from 7:30-7:56 p.m. ET averaged a 0.9/3 in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall and a 1.9/3 household rating/share. “Football Night in America 3” from 7:56-8:22 p.m. delivered a 3.3/10 in 18-49, 9.9 million viewers overall and a 6.0/10 in households. From 8:22-8:31 p.m., “NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff” averaged a 4.2/12 in 18-49, 13.1 million viewers overall and a 7.9/13 in households. Note: “Football Night in America” from 7-7:30 p.m. ET was sustaining programming and does not figure in the nightly or weekly primetime averages.